Legolas could not sit still. He had already walked up and down the camp, walked through the wilderness that was the Field of Cormallen, and STILL he was unsettled. Deciding that he was tired of walking around the open spaces, he went back to camp, where everyone was busy getting the tents and the pavilions ready for the grand feast that would take place once Frodo and Sam were back on their feet and once Camille and Eli were awake.
He smiled slightly, remembering. After the fall of Barad-dur, Gandalf had gone off on Gwaihir the Windlord's back, heading towards the Tower. When he had returned, he had Frodo and Sam with him. And one of Frodo's fingers was missing. Legolas hadn't asked about it, as he knew it would all be revealed in time, and he had other things on his mind.
Like the fact that Camille has not yet awakened. It had been exactly fourteen days since the Fall of Barad-dur, and it was a well-known fact that the Four Great Spirits of Middle-Earth had gotten rid of the last remnants of Sauron as the Ring was destroyed. But it took out a lot of energy from the two Summoners, and they were currently lying in one of the tents, still deep in slumber, recuperating from their exertion.
He was now standing in front of the tent that housed his beloved, and he entered quietly. Inside, he found Elrohir sitting in a chair, watching as Eli slept on. ^How do they fare, Elrohir?^
The dark-haired Elf sighed wearily. He and Elladan had spent much of the week tending to the injured survivors, being healers themselves. Elrohir was particularly busy, as he was the better healer of the two. But he always found time to go to this tent and check on his beloved. ^They are still the same, Legolas. Still sleeping, still wandering the dream realms. I am tempted to go into their sleep and draw them back, but I feel that they need their rest.^
Legolas nodded, smiling. ^Aye, you are right. They have done much for this world, more than they were required to do, perhaps.^
^Aye,^ Elrohir replied with a nod and a smile as he glanced at Legolas. ^They were not required to bind themselves to us in love, and yet, they did such a thing.^ He chuckled then. ^Somehow I feel like I am the luckiest being alive.^
Legolas laughed outright. ^Aye, I feel the same way.^ He turned his gaze to the sleeping Camille. ^She has surrendered her life in her world, only to be with me.^ He set his lips in a serious frown. ^And I vow over my immortal life that she will never know sadness ever again.^
^Ah yes, you are to wed, are you not?^ Elrohir asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He got up from his chair, and stood beside Legolas. ^You must be gentle with her on the first night, my friend. Patience is the key. She will learn in time what you like.^
Legolas blushed a bright shade of red. Of all the things he must say! Although Elrohir was indeed older than him by three or four hundred years, that didn't mean he knew nothing about what couples did on the wedding night. ^You do not need to tell me such, Elrohir,^ he muttered. ^I am more than two thousand years old; I know what you speak of. And she is MY bride. You have no right to tell me such things in relation to her. If you must speak of it, leave her out of it.^
Elrohir laughed, and shook his head. ^I was but teasing you, my friend. And you would do very well to expect such things, especially once the betrothal is known to all and sundry. I am certain that you will not hear the end of it until the ceremony itself.^ And before Legolas could say anything further, he walked out of the tent.
* * *
Camille opened her eyes slightly, allowing the soft glow of tempered sunlight to filter into them. She groaned as a MASSIVE headache the likes of which she had never known in her life pounded through her skull. Oh my God…it hurts…it really, REALLY hurts… Sitting up slowly, she propped herself up with one arm, since her free hand she was using to slowly rub out the throbbing headache. Why isn't there any aspirin when you need it?
After a few moments of rubbing and taking deep breaths, the pain had lessened somewhat, giving her a longer attention span. She looked around, and realized that she was inside a tent, lying in a very comfortable bed. There were birds singing outside, so they were no longer in Mordor. Inhaling deeply, she recognized a faint scent in the air that reminded her of… Ithilien. Is that where we are right now?
"Ooh… I feel like someone just whacked me on the head with a hardbound, unabridged volume of Les Miserables."
Camille looked to her left at the sound, and watched as Eli slowly sat up, rubbing her forehead like she was doing a while ago. She grinned. "Had a good rest, Eli?"
Her best friend snorted, and her shoulders shifted in a shrug. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Camille. If I wake up with a headache, that can't be a good sign. The last thing I remember is blacking out when Gandalf told me that the reign of Sauron was over…"
The reign of Sauron is over… It was only then that the whole thing hit Camille, and her mind reeled. The reign of Sauron is over…that means the Ring is destroyed…and we're alive…we're all alive… She let out a loud squeal of joy that could be heard all over the camp, and she jumped onto Eli's bed, hugging her best friend tight. "Ohmigod, we made it Eli!!!! WE MADE IT!!! Sauron's gone and we're alive, and we're free to do what we want!!! WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Though it took a while for Eli to react, she was soon screaming and laughing and jumping up and down on the bed as though it was a trampoline. The two girls were holding hands while jumping up and down, screaming, "WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT! WE-"
"Ahem."
When she heard the rather stern voice at the entrance to the tent, Camille stopped jumping, and turned to look. She saw Gandalf and Aragorn standing in the entrance, and both of them wore rather serious looks on their faces, though there was a hint of a smile curling on their mouths. Thoroughly embarrassed by their rather juvenile display, she sank down onto the bed again, and a bright blush tinted her face. "Uh…hi?"
Gandalf chuckled as he approached them. "Though the defeat of Sauron is certainly cause for celebration, I do not think it requires as exuberant a display as jumping on a bed after you have just awoken."
Eli giggled. "Hey, when it's as big as surviving in a war against Sauron, I say that jumping on a bed is a good idea. In fact, I was kind of thinking of starting up a pillow fight, but then you two came along."
Aragorn laughed outright at that comment. "Then I hope you will forgive us for interfering at this time, but you have just awoken, and you are not completely recovered yet. That final assault took out much energy from you. You must stay in bed for some time, or at least for the afternoon. Tonight there will be a feast held in your honor."
Eh? "A feast? For what reason?" Camille asked as she cocked an eyebrow at Aragorn.
It was Gandalf who laughed this time. "You truly underestimate your role in this battle. If it had not been for you, then perhaps Sauron would still be out there, and this war would not have come to a complete and utter close." He winked at them. "You are heroines now, Camille, Eli. Your names will forever be remembered by those who have participated in this war, and by those who will come after."
"Aye, what Gandalf speaks of is true," Aragorn said with a nod. He was now holding a steaming cup of something, and this he passed to Camille. "Here, drink this. It will help you recuperate faster."
Camille nodded, and took the cup from Aragorn, who then turned, and gave another one to Eli. "Thank you."
Aragorn smiled, and brushed back a stray lock of hair. "Twas nothing, little sister, twas nothing at all." He kissed her gently on the cheek, and did the same with Eli before moving towards the entrance of the tent. "Now I expect you two to REST. You will have more than enough time for mischief when you have recovered."
"Yes, big brother," Eli yelled sarcastically as Aragorn exited the tent, leaving them with Gandalf.
The Wizard smiled, and shook his head good-naturedly. "I seriously doubt that you will remain in bed this whole day, so to keep you here, I have sent for Merry and Pippin to keep you company. Mischief-makers must stay in the company of their fellows, must they not?"
Camille laughed. "I don't know if that's a good idea, Gandalf, unless you want to end up as the butt of our pranks. Remember, two heads are better than one, so if you put four heads together…"
"Then I suppose that is a risk I must take," Gandalf answered with a laugh. He stood up, and moved towards the exit. "I shall repeat what Aragorn said: stay in bed. You will have more than enough time for celebration tonight. I will go to see to Frodo and Sam. They have just awakened as well, and they need a little more looking-after than you do." And with that, he left.
Well, at least we're sure we ALL made it out alive. Thank God that Frodo and Sam managed to get out in one piece. Camille sighed, and turned to look at Eli. "Something tells me that we're going to be in for something we never expected."
"Don't worry Camille," Eli said quietly, "you're not alone in that feeling."
* * *
Eli tentatively stepped out from behind the changing screen, smoothing down the front of her dress. "How do I look, Elrohir?"
The dark-haired Elf turned, and a look that could only be described as surprise and awe appeared on his face. He approached her slowly, reverently, and kissed her hand. "My Lady…you honor me with your presence."
Eli frowned, and pushed him lightly on the chest. "Funny Elrohir. Seriously, do I look alright?"
Elrohir straightened up, and smiled, nodding. "Aye, you look beautiful. All the stars in the sky pale in comparison."
Eli couldn't help blushing at the compliment. "Thanks Elrohir." She looked down at her outfit. It was a soft, flowing blue dress in the Elvish fashion, replete with silver embroidery, though how Aragorn and the others managed to find it she would never know. A pair of blue velvet slippers that also had silver embroidery on them accompanied it, and they fit so well that she began to wonder if the whole outfit was made especially for this occasion. If that's the case, she thought, how did they get my measurements?
But she had no time for such thoughts, because Elrohir was already steering her towards the nearby dressing table. Gently pushing down on her shoulders so that she would sit, he left her for a moment, and returned with a wooden box in his hands. He smiled at her reflection as he slowly opened the box, first pulling out the Pendant of Imladris. After he fastened it around her neck, he reached into the box again, and this time brought out a delicate mithril filigree circlet, a beautiful star sapphire gleaming from the center.
Eli gasped with awe and wonder as Elrohir carefully placed the circlet on her head so that the sapphire was in the middle of her brow. The mithril was bright and pure, and the sapphire seemed to glow with its own light. ^Elrohir, where did this come from?^ she asked as she hesitantly touched the circlet.
^It is a gift that comes from Aragorn and the people of Gondor,^ Elrohir explained, ^from out of the treasuries of Ithilien. Long was the searching for such a gift, and it is beautiful in itself, but it only heightens your own beauty, my love.^
Eli giggled, and shook her head. ^Flattery will get you nowhere, my love. So stop cosseting me or we shall never leave this tent.^
^I would not mind that,^ Elrohir whispered, and there was a slight hint of seduction in his voice that both thrilled and unnerved Eli.
Laughing, Eli stood up, and moved towards the tent flap. ^Come now, you naughty Elf, and let us to go the feast.^ She started out of the tent, Elrohir quickly standing by her side, and nearly collided with Camille, who was being escorted by Legolas, as usual.
Camille grinned when she saw Eli and Elrohir. "Let me say this now: you two make the cutest couple I have ever seen."
Eli smiled, and reached out to whack Camille on the head. "Oh yeah? You and Legolas are just absolutely perfect, so perfect that it looks impossible."
"Hey, watch out! Don't touch the hair!" Camille exclaimed as she laughingly ducked Eli's hand. It was only then that Eli realized what her best friend was wearing. It was a brilliant crimson red dress with gold embroidery, matched by a pair of crimson slippers. Around her throat was the Pendant of Lothlorien, and upon her head was a mithril circlet like the one she wore, except where the sapphire should be there was a ruby instead.
"I know, I know," Camille said with a sigh as she hesitantly touched her own circlet with her fingertips. She nodded towards Legolas. "He wouldn't explain to me why I have to wear this thing tonight."
Legolas laughed. "You will find out later on tonight, my love, I promise you that." He went ahead of her slightly on the path, tugging her right hand gently. "Come, we cannot be late for the feast."
As Camille followed Legolas down the path, Eli noticed a flash of something on her left ring finger. She got a fleeting glimpse of it, and realized, to her utter surprise, that it was a ring, consisting of an emerald set amid diamonds on a band of gold. She raised her eyebrows when she saw it. "An engagement ring?" she murmured.
"What do you speak of?" Elrohir asked curiously as they continued on their way to the small cluster of brightly lit tents in the field below.
"Did you see the ring on Camille's finger?" Eli asked as she looked up at Elrohir, who chuckled in response.
The son of Elrond nodded. "Aye, I saw it, and I know about it as well. I do not know how it goes in your world, but amongst the Elves, it is customary for the groom to give his bride-to-be something valuable, and it usually comes in the form of jewelry. It then becomes a sign that the female is engaged and is to be wed. It can be a necklace or a bracelet, but the most common gifts are rings. The ring that Camille is wearing is a betrothal gift from Legolas. I am not sure, but I believe Legolas said it once belonged to his mother."
"Really? We have almost the same thing in our world. The guy gives the girl what we call an engagement ring, which is preferably a diamond in gold, and it is placed on the left ring finger. There's this old belief that there is a vein that runs from the left ring finger to the heart, and that if the engagement ring is placed there, then the love of the couple will remain true forever. Later on, in the wedding ceremony, the engagement ring is replaced by a wedding ring, which is just a simple gold band with something inscribed on the inside."
"And what is written on the inside?"
"Anything, actually. Most couples like to place the date of their wedding, but some prefer romantic phrases or promises that they make to each other."
They stopped at that moment, and Eli surveyed the scene. They were now standing at the edge of the entrance of another tent, and they slipped inside. There, she found Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Camille and Legolas, all chatting with each other as Gandalf helped Frodo and Sam prepare for the feast.
Eli waited until Gandalf was finished with them, before she ran up to the two Hobbits, and gave each of them a hug. "Frodo! Sam! Oh God, I really missed you guys! I was so worried about you when you just up and left us at Parth Galen!"
Frodo laughed a little, and answered, "We are terribly sorry if we made you worry, Eli. But I suppose you know why we did that…"
"I do, and I understand, and I forgive you." Eli grinned at them. "I'm just so glad you're alive."
"We're glad to see YOU'RE alive too, Miss Eli," Sam said with a happy smile, even as tears glinted and threatened to fall from his eyes.
Gandalf laughed heartily. "Ah, yes indeed, this is a pleasant reunion! And now we have much time to ourselves for the telling of tales and stories!" He moved towards the exit of the tent, and held it open for them. "Come, my friends! Let us go to the feast!"
* * *
To say that Camille was overwhelmed was too much of an understatement. The feast had been mind-boggling, head-spinning, dizzying…and just plain awe-inspiring. The minute they were noticed by the soldiers that had come to attend the feast, they didn't just bow, they KNELT on their knees, drawing their swords and shaking their spears in gestures of utmost respect.
After they had managed to make their way through the crowd, they were brought before Aragorn, Eomer and Imrahil, who then declared to all those gathered their heroism and their right to honor. When Aragorn was finished with his speech, a minstrel of Gondor came forward and offered to sing a song that chronicled the deeds of heroism that had occurred in Barad-dur. After that, the feasting began, and it continued well into the night.
When the feast started to wind down, Eli, Merry, Pippin, Frodo, Sam, Gandalf and herself excused themselves from the general merrymaking and slid off to a more secluded area of the camp. They found a comfortable spot beneath some trees, and there they stayed into the night, swapping stories and adventures.
Camille listened carefully to the story of Sam and Frodo, and felt her heart go out to them, especially when she saw that his right hand was missing a finger. And then they started to tell their side of the story, which seemed to make Sam extremely confused, since he kept asking which parts linked to which and what happened in which part. Of course, it didn't help that Merry and Pippin kept interrupting each other. Eventually, Legolas and Gimli joined then, and they in turn contributed their part of the story to the now very long and rather convoluted tale.
During a lull in the storytelling, Pippin suddenly looked up, and said, "Now would be a good time for another song, Camille, Eli! It's been a while since I last heard your voices. Would you grace us with a song…for what might be the last time?"
Eli laughed, and shook her head. "It won't be the last time, Pippin, not in a long, long while. We're going to be hanging around here for quite sometime. But as for the song…hmmm." She glanced at Camille. "Any suggestions?"
Camille grinned, and thought about it. Hmmm, what song would be most appropriate? After spending a couple of moments thinking, she grinned, and said, "I have an idea…" She started to sing…
We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you…
Eli smiled, and continued to the next stanza…
No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start…
They joined together at the chorus…
And life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you…
Eli started up the next part…
We were strangers, on a crazy adventure…
Camille did the next line…
Never dreaming, how our dreams would come true…
They sang together at that point…
Now here we stand, unafraid of the future,
At the beginning with you…
And life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you…
I knew there was somebody somewhere
Like me lost in the dark
Now I know that dreams will belong, I've been waiting so long,
Nothing's gonna tear us apart…
And life is a road and I wanna keep going,
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning,
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you…
Life is a road I wanna keep going on…
Starting out on a journey
Life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning…with you…
The end of the song was met with applause, especially from Sam. "It's been too long, Miss Camille and Miss Eli," he said, "since I last heard you sing. And you're right. We're all standing at the beginning again, we are, at the beginning of a new life. And I never thought we'd meet again like this, not while we were in Cirith Ungol, at least. It warms my heart to be with all of you again."
Gandalf laughed, and stood up. "I could not have put it better myself, Sam." He gestured towards the camp. "But now, I believe we must retire for the night, for on the morrow, we return to Minas Tirith. I press this point on our two Summoners and Ringbearers, especially. Aragorn may have healed you, but you still need your rest."
"And not only Sam, Frodo, Camille and Eli," said Gimli, "But you too, Pippin. I love you, if only because of the pains you have cost me, which I shall never forget. Nor shall I forget finding you on the hill of the last battle. But for Gimli the Dwarf you would have been lost then. But at least I know now the look of a Hobbit's foot, though it be all that can be seen under a heap of bodies. And when I heaved that great carcass off you, I made sure you were dead. I could have torn out my beard. And it is only a day yet since you were first up and abroad again. To bed now you go. And so shall I."
"And I," said Legolas, "shall walk in the woods of this fair land, which is rest enough. In days to come, if my Elven-lord allows, some of our folk shall remove hither; and when we come it shall be blessed for a while. For a while: a month, a life, a hundred years of Men. But Anduin is near, and Anduin leads to the Sea!"
Eli snickered then. "Aren't you forgetting something, Legolas? What about the sweet little bride you intend to marry?"
Camille immediately felt a blush appear on her face. "Eli!"
Frodo looked up, startled. "Bride? Camille, do you mean to say that you and Legolas are…"
"Not yet married, just betrothed to each other," Camille answered quickly, before Merry or Pippin or Eli could say otherwise.
Legolas laughed then. "Ah yes, of course!" He turned his blue gaze to her, and said, "I shall marry the one whom my heart desires, and we shall build a fair house in the beautiful glades of this land, between the forests and the Sea. Its windows shall look out over the Sea, and its gardens shall encompass the forests. And all the flowers of the land will grow and prosper, and all the songbirds will come at dawn. And my bride shall rise every morning to the scent of flowers and the chorus of the birds at her window…"
Camille giggled, and shook her head. "Okay, okay, I get the picture Legolas." She stretched, and yawned. "But Gandalf is right; we DO need our rest."
"Very well then." Legolas stood up, and held his hand out to her. "Come, I shall see you to your rest."
Camille sighed, and, taking his hand, she was led back to her tent, where she slid into bed after changing out of her gown and into her nightclothes, and fell asleep dreaming of the good things that were to come.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Okay, this is somewhat useless, but this is just my take of what happened on the Field of Cormallen when Frodo, Sam, Camille and Eli woke up. Oh yeah, and the song up there is the song "At the Beginning", which I lifted from the Anastasia soundtrack. ANYWAY, on to the next chapter!!! Aragorn has finally taken up his residence in the City of Gondor, and most everyone has been busy with rebuilding. However, strange dreams appear to be plaguing the two Summoners, and the Fellowship sets out once more for one final adventure.